WPT LUCKY HEARTS: VALENTINE'S DAY MASSACRE - JUTTELSTAD RULES THE HARD ROCK

PHOTO CREDIT/SOURCE: WPT.com

Although he didn't hold the chip lead throughout, it seemed pretty obvious early on that Matt Juttelstad was going to be one to watch out for at the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open in Hollywood, Florida.

Hovering around the chip lead throughout, Juttelstad's chip stack did take a hit earlier today during final table play but, he took control of the tournament late and never looked back ... after a few very small payouts, Juttelstad goes home with almost 270K US, well played, sir.

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FINAL TABLE PAYOUTS 1st: Matt Juttelstad, $268,444 2nd: Gigi Gagne, $158,194 3rd: Uri Kadosh, $105,463 4th: Sharon Levin, $73,344 5th: Todd Jacobson, $54,649 6th: Keith Ferrera, $42,185 RELATED POSTS >> GAGNE LOOKING FOR VALENTINE >> JUTTELSTAD STILL ON TOP >> DAY 2 UNDERWAY AT HARD ROCK >> GIMBEL SHORT AT HARD ROCK >> FROM RUSSIAN, WITH LOVE DEFENDING CHAMPION Inaugural Event NEXT TOUR STOP WPT L.A. Poker Classic (LAPC) February 24-29, 2012

PTPR PREMIER EVENT World Poker Tour Lucky Hearts Poker Open WPT Lucky Hearts NLH Main Event February 10-14, 2012 Seminole Hard Rock | Hollywood, FL Buy-in: $3,500 | Prizepool: $958,750 Entries: 295 PTPR POINTS DISTRIBUTION MATT JUTTELSTAD 127 GIGI GAGNE 77 URI KADOSH 47 SHARON LEVIN 37 TODD JACOBSON 32 KEITH FERRERA 27 OMAR SIDER 27 HAL KLEIN 12 HARRISON GIMBEL 12 VICTOR HEFFESSE 12 ALEX IVANOV 12 GANESH LETCHUMANAN 10 CHRISTIAN HARDER 10 GIAN OLIVERI 10 RAJ VOHRA 10 STEVEN KARP 7 ANTONIO COLON 7 NOAH SCHWARTZ 7

WPT LUCKY HEARTS: JUTTELSTAD REMAINS ON TOP, GIMBEL TRENDING

PHOTO CREDIT/SOURCE: WPT.com

Not many people were familiar with the name Matt Juttelstad when the Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open began a few days ago ... but, with two straight days on top of the leaderboard, it certainly looks like Juttelstad means business here in Hollywood.


Lurking not too far behind is Harrison Gimbel. Gimbel, who has a win and third place finish at major events in this very casino, will be looking to continue his ascension to the top of the chip counts. The 2010 PCA Main Event winner certainly has an impressive resume, not bad for a guy who's barely in his 20's.

The final storyline belongs to Florida pro Noah Schwartz. Will Schwartz make it to the Seminole today? Schwartz has jury duty today. He plans to fulfil his duty as a citizen, but, hopes to be able to return to his chip stack early enough, to limit any damages.

We're expecting to weed through the final 34 players and find our final table participants today in Florida - oh, and our money bubble is set to burst during today's play as well!

NOTABLE CHIP COUNTS (START OF DAY 3)
Matt Juttelstad 805,000
Gigi Gagne 725,000
Uri Kadosh 685,000
Angelo Miele 570,000
Harrison Gimbel 456,000
Keith Ferrera 321,000
Noah Schwartz 258,000
Will Durkee 221,000
Jonathan Little 220,000
Darryll Fish 201,000
Christian Harder 115,500

NOTABLE DAY 2 PLAYER ELIMINATIONS
Shannon Shorr, Mike Beasley, Matt Giannetti, Matt Brady, Matt Stout, Matthew Waxman, Tristan Wade, Will Failla, Todd Terry, Shaun Deeb, Tony Ruberto, Tony Cousineau, Daniel Buzgon, Danny Shiff, Allen Kessler, Allie Prescott, Jeremy McLaughlin, Kathy Liebert and Jason Mercier.

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WPT LUCKY HEARTS PAYOUTS 1st: $268,444 2nd: $158,194 3rd: $105,463 4th: $73,344 5th: $54,649 6th: $42,185 7th: $32,598 8th: $23,969 9th: $17,258 10th-12th: $13,423 13th-15th: $11,505 16th-18th: $10,067 19th-27th: $8,629 RELATED POSTS >> DAY 2 UNDERWAY AT HARD ROCK >> GIMBEL SHORT AT HARD ROCK >> FROM RUSSIAN, WITH LOVE DEFENDING CHAMPION Inaugural Event LIVE UPDATES WPT.com

PTPR PREMIER EVENT World Poker Tour Lucky Hearts Poker Open WPT Lucky Hearts NLH Main Event February 10-14, 2012 Seminole Hard Rock | Hollywood, FL Buy-in: $3,500 | Prizepool: $958,750 Entries: 295 PTPR POINTS DISTRIBUTION 1st place 127 2nd place 77 3rd place 47 4th place 37 5th place 32 6-7th place 27 8-11th place 12 12-15th place 10 16-18th place 7 NEXT TOUR STOP WPT L.A. Poker Classic (LAPC) February 24-29, 2012

WPT LUCKY HEARTS: DAY 2 UNDERWAY AT SEMINOLE HARD ROCK

PHOTO CREDIT/SOURCE: WPT.com

Day 2 play is just under way as the World Poker Tour made it's way from Venice to Hollywood, Florida this weekend.

The inaugural WPT Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open has attracted a total of 295 player entries and our prizepool is just under one million dollars.

Matt Juttelstad is the chip leader heading into Day 2 play. Juttelstad (2011 PTPR Rank: NR) finished 82nd at the 2010 PCA Main Event.

Las Vegas pro Keith Ferrera (2011 PTPR Rank: NR) and Florida pro - the man who needs no introduction - Jason Mercier (2011 PTPR Rank: 8th) are in the Top 10 and are certainly two players to keep an eye on today.

NOTABLE CHIP COUNTS (START OF DAY 2)
Matt Juttelstad 280,000
Keith Ferrera 200,600
Jason Mercier 176,400
Harrison Gimbel 143,200
Christian Harder 114,400
Darryll Fish 113,200
Shaun Deeb 112,700
Tristan Wade 96,200
Matt Stout 94,800
Tony Cousineau 81,300
Tony Ruberto 77,100
Danny Shiff 66,000
Jonathan Little 63,700
John Spadavecchia Jr 60,800
Fred Goldberg 59,500
Matt Waxman 59,400
Jeremy McLaughlin 54,000
Shannon Shorr 51,700
Vitor Coelho 50,100
Noah Schwartz 49,500
Todd Terry 46,700
Matt Giannetti 46,200
Allie Prescott 36,600
Mike Beasley 34,200
Allen Kessler 33,400
Matt Brady 23,800
Daniel Buzgon 23,500
Will Failla 22,500
Kathy Liebert 18,100
Ashton Griffin 14,000

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WPT LUCKY HEARTS PAYOUTS 1st: $268,444 2nd: $158,194 3rd: $105,463 4th: $73,344 5th: $54,649 6th: $42,185 7th: $32,598 8th: $23,969 9th: $17,258 10th-12th: $13,423 13th-15th: $11,505 16th-18th: $10,067 19th-27th: $8,629 RELATED POSTS >> GIMBEL SHORT AT HARD ROCK >> FROM RUSSIAN, WITH LOVE

PTPR PREMIER EVENT World Poker Tour Lucky Hearts Poker Open WPT Lucky Hearts NLH Main Event February 10-14, 2012 Seminole Hard Rock | Hollywood, FL Buy-in: $3,500 | Prizepool: $958,750 Entries: 295 PTPR POINTS DISTRIBUTION 1st place 127 2nd place 77 3rd place 47 4th place 37 5th place 32 6-7th place 27 8-11th place 12 12-15th place 10 16-18th place 7 NEXT TOUR STOP WPT L.A. Poker Classic (LAPC) February 24-29, 2012